Brie Larson: 5 Things You Need To Know About Your New Hero

With Captain Marvel quickly becoming the year's biggest blockbuster, we thought it was only fair that we introduce you to the film's leading lady - Brie Larson.

Brie Larson won our hearts with her Oscar-winning performance in 'Room' and now the 29-year-old is making history as Marvel's first female superhero.

So, what do we need to know about this insanely talented actor? Let's find out.

1. She's been acting professionally since 1998

Her first major role came in 2001, when she played Bob Saget's characters daughter on the sitcom Raising Dad. She later appeared in the Disney Channel movie Right on Track with 7th Heaven actress Beverley Mitchell, and in the 2004 films 13 Going on 30 and Sleepover.

Her breakthrough TV role came in 2009 as Toni Collette's daughter in United States of Tara. This was closely followed by roles in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, The Spectacular Now, Short Term 12, Trainwreck and 21 Jump Street.

In 2016, she won an Oscar for Best Leading Actress for her role as a sexual assault victim in the A24 film, Room.

2. She's making history

Captain Marvel marks the first solo female superhero movie in the Marvel universe's 10-year history. This is a tremendous feat given there have been 21 movies over 11 years and three phases.

"It doesn't really feel like me to be honest," she told ABC7. "I feel that's how I've been able to keep myself pretty grounded. I just feel like I'm the embodiment of a symbol. I see it as just a character that's separate."

3. She is an advocate for better representation of diversity in films

During a speech at the Crystal + Lucy Awards, Brie called for more inclusion and diversity in film.

"Am I saying I hate white dudes?" she said in her speech. "No, I’m not... [but if] you make the movie that is a love letter to women of colour, there is an insanely low chance a woman of colour will have a chance to see your movie and review your movie."

She added, “[Viewers] are not allowed enough chances to read public discourse on these films by the people that the films were made for. I do not need a 40-year-old white dude to tell me what didn’t work for him about 'Wrinkle in Time'. It wasn’t made for him. I want to know what it meant to women of colour, to biracial women, to teen women of colour, to teens that are biracial.”

4. It was Samuel L. Jackson who convinced her to accept the role of Captain Marvel

After both starring in Kong: Skull Island, Samuel L. Jackson gave her the confident boost and guidance she needed to play Captain Marvel while travelling back from Vietnam for the 2016 Oscars.

"I figured it was going to be this moment where he was going to instil all this wisdom and give me some sage advice I could ruminate on my three plane flights back to Los Angeles," Brie told USA Today.

"And nothing! He didn’t say anything... and I was like, ‘You’re not going to say anything? You’re not going to tell me what I’m supposed to do?’ And he was like, 'Why would I tell you what to do? You already know what you’re supposed to do. You get it!'"

5. She was a teenage pop star!

We thought we'd leave the best to last as we confirm that Brie Larson was indeed a teenage pop idol.

In 2005, the then 14-year-old released an album called 'Finally Out Of P.E'. Legit. We wouldn't be surprised if you remember her song 'She Said' because we certainly do! She also sang in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World with a banging cover of Metric's 'Black Sheep'.

Although her early work might be a bit cringe (it was the noughties after all), we can assure you that Brie does have an amazing voice, which is obvious in her parody of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's 'Shallow' with Samuel L. Jackson on the Jonathan Ross Show.

Now that you're up-to-date with Brie Larson's own history, we think it's perfect time to see the new blockbuster. We don't know about you but Captain Marvel is the superhero we've desperately been waiting for!